Sportshorts for Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013

The Prophetstown girls basketball team received 29 votes, good for eighth in the most recent Class 1A AP poll released Tuesday.

The Prophets (18-3, 6-1 Three Rivers) received votes but were unranked in the preseason poll. In 2A, the Oregon girls (16-4, 5-0 Big Northern West) received nine votes, 13 fewer than No. 10 Riverdale.

The only boys team to receive votes was Eastland (11-3, 2-0 NUIC West), which got 15, 17 fewer than No. 10 Wethersfield. See the complete polls on B3.

OUTDOORS

Late-winter deer permits available

County permits for the final segment of the 2012-13 late-winter firearm antlerless-only deer season and the CWD deer season Jan. 18-20 are available through DNR Direct license and permit vendors.

Archery deer and archery fall turkey permits are also available through the end of those seasons Jan. 20. Visit dnr.illinois.gov for more information.

NFL

Eagles to interview Smith on Thursday

The Philadelphia Eagles announced Tuesday that they will interview former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith on Thursday.

The Buffalo Bills passed on a chance to interview Smith and hired Syracuse coach Doug Marrone.

Jets fire offensive coordinator Sparano

The New York Jets fired offensive coordinator Tony Sparano after a season in which the offense ranked among the league’s worst.

NHL

League aims to start season Jan. 19

If everything goes smoothly in the voting processes on a new collective bargaining agreement, a truncated NHL season will begin Jan. 19, according to a top league official.

The NHL Board of Governors will meet today in New York to vote on ratifying a new collective bargaining agreement.

CYCLING

Report: Armstrong offered donation

The head of the U.S. Anti Doping Agency claims in a that a representative of banned cyclist Lance Armstrong once offered to make a donation estimated around $250,000 to the agency in 2004.

USADA Chief Executive Travis Tygart told reporter Scott Pelley that an individual representing Armstrong tried to give USADA donation estimated around $250,000 sometime in 2004. Tygart called the gesture “totally inappropriate.” and railed at the cyclist’s prior $100,000 gift to the International Cycling Union after a suspect sample was gathered from the rider.